Heating cable

ABSTRACT

A heating cable includes a bus wire structure that includes a plurality of bus wires. An insulation layer is provided to insulate the plurality of bus wires. A plurality of node areas exposes portions of the bus wires from the insulation. A heating element is wrapped around the bus wire structure in a helical manner. The heating element includes an insulating core and one or more resistance wires wrapped around the core in a helical manner. The heating element is electrically coupled to the nodes of the bus wire structure at the plurality of node areas. The insulating core may be made of a folded-over tape made of a cloth material, such as glass cloth. Pluralities of redundant paths in between two nodes are provided to allow for current to flow in a zone if one of the redundant paths is broken.

This application is a continuation of patent application Ser. No.12/122,592 filed May 16, 2008, and hereby incorporates by referencepatent application Ser. No. 12/122,592 in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

Particular embodiments generally relate to heating cables.

In cold environments, pipes may transport substances, such as oil,steam, and other process streams, etc. When steam or other processstreams are transported through the pipes, the heat from the steam orprocess stream may help keep the pipes from freezing. However, if thesystem malfunctions, or if the flow of the process stream stops, andsteam is not transported through the pipes, the steam condenses and thepipes may freeze. Accordingly, an electric heater may be used to keepthe pipes warm to prevent freezing.

Different long-line heaters, generically called heat tracing products,may be used to keep the pipes warm. For example, all types of heatersare used. However, not all heaters may work well at high temperature.This is especially important when substances are transported at hightemperatures in the pipes. Also, if the heater fails, then there is alarge likelihood that the pipes may freeze and fail. This is a costlyrepair for a company and very undesirable.

There are several types of series connected heaters and several types ofparallel connected. Heat tracing circuits, i.e., the length of pipe thatis to be traced, are of varying length. Parallel heaters are desiredbecause they can be cut to length and do not have to be engineered forthe particular circuit, as do series heaters. Another difference in heattracing products is that most of them have polymeric elements orinsulation, and some have only inorganic elements and insulation, thelatter can withstand very high temperatures for long times. So calledself-regulating heat tracers are polymeric based and have parallelcircuits, zone heaters have resistance wire heating elements but aregenerally polymeric insulated. Series heating cables can be eitherpolymeric insulated or have only inorganic elements and insulation, suchas MI Cable. However these latter types are not cut to length.

Some problems with zone heaters that use resistance wires for heatingelements are that a certain length of resistance wire needs to beincluded in a zone. Zone lengths become very long because of the lengthof resistance wire that has to be used. The length between two baredareas may be a zone and a certain amount of resistance wire needs to beincluded in between a zone to provide the amount of heat desired.Because a large amount of resistance wire may need to be included inbetween zones, zone lengths that are several feet long are needed. If aresistance wire breaks or a node is bad with poor contacts betweenresistance wires and bus wires, then an entire zone or maybe two zonesdo not produce heat. This results in significantly long cold lengths indamaged zone heaters.

SUMMARY

In one embodiment, a heating cable is provided. The heating cableincludes a bus wire structure that includes a plurality of bus wires. Aninsulation layer is provided to insulate the plurality of bus wires. Aplurality of node areas exposes portions of one or the other of the buswires from the insulation.

One or more heating elements is wrapped around the bus wire structure ina helical manner. The heating element includes an insulating core andone or more resistance wires wrapped around the core in a helicalmanner. The heating element is electrically coupled to the nodes of thebus wire structure at the plurality of node areas that are onalternative sides of the bus wire structure. The insulating core of theheating element may be made of a folded-over tape made of a clothmaterial, such as glass cloth. The folded-over tape is somewhat stiffand when it folds over it exerts a force that causes it to open upagain. This may retain some outward force and allows the resistance wireto form a good connection with the node areas when the heating elementis wrapped around the bus wire structure.

The one or more resistance wires are wrapped around the heating elementand the heating element is wrapped around the bus wire structure inbetween the two nodes. This provides shorter effective zones. Aplurality of redundant paths in between two nodes is provided to allowfor current to flow in a zone if one of the redundant paths is broken.

Further, a clip may be provided that is configured to wrap around theheating cable at a node to secure the electrical connection between thebus wire and the one or more resistance wires at the node. The clipincludes a tab and an aperture, where the tab is inserted through theaperture to exert pressure against the one or more resistance wires tosecure the electrical connection to one of the bus wires at the nodearea.

This heater core is further insulated with inorganic materials, such asglass cloth and mica tape. Subsequently, the heating cable also includesa metal sheath enclosing the bus wire structure and the insulatedheating element.

A further understanding of the nature and the advantages of particularembodiments disclosed herein may be realized by reference of theremaining portions of the specification and the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts a heating cable according to one embodiment.

FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C depict examples of a heating element according tovarious embodiments.

FIG. 3A depicts an example of the heating element being wrapped aroundthe bus wire structure according to one embodiment.

FIGS. 3B and 3C depict different embodiments of multiple heatingelements wrapped around the bus wire structure according to oneembodiment.

FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 4C depict examples of electrical circuits according toparticular embodiments.

FIG. 5A depicts an example of a mechanical fastener that may be used toenhance the connection at a node according to one embodiment.

FIG. 5B shows a tie attached to the heating cable according to oneembodiment.

FIG. 6 depicts a simplified flowchart of a method for manufacturing aheating cable according to one embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 depicts a heating cable 100 according to one embodiment. Heatingcable 100 includes a plurality of bus wires 102 and a first insulationlayer 104. Bus wires 102 and first insulation layer 104 combine to forma bus wire structure. Heating cable 100 also includes a heating element106 that is wrapped around the bus wire structure. A second insulationlayer 108 is wrapped around heating element 106 and the bus wirestructure. A metal sheath 109 encloses the bus wire structure andheating element 106.

Bus wires 102 provide electrical power to heating zones. The bus wiresmay include round, stranded metal-coated copper conductors, narrow bandsof copper or other conducting metals, braided copper structures, orother structures that can provide electrical power. In one embodiment,two bus wires 102 are provided and are set parallel to one another.However, it will be understood that any other number of bus wires 102may be used and can be arranged differently.

First insulation layer 104 surrounds bus wires 102. First insulationlayer 104 electrically separates bus wires 102 from heating element 106.First insulation layer 104 may include layers of glass cloth, braidedglass fibers, mica sheets, high-temperature silicon gels and pastes,etc.

A spacing structure in between the bus wires 102 to keep the bus wiresapart may be provided. A wider heating cable may be desirable to providehigher power outputs that can be distributed over a wider and largersurface area of the heating cable. A spacer such as from glass yarns arewrapped around glass cloth or other inorganic form to form a spacerobject that can be situated in between bus wires 102 so they are spacedapart a suitable distance.

First insulation layer 104 may include bared areas that are referred toas nodes 110. The bared areas are where insulation has been removed toexpose a portion of one of bus wires 102. Node 110 allows heatingelement 106 to contact bus wire 102. As will be described in more detailbelow, an electrical connection is formed at nodes 110.

Second insulation layer 108 is wrapped around the heating element 106and bus wire structure to electrically insulate heating element 106 fromthe metal sheath that encloses it. Second insulation layer 108 mayinclude layers of glass cloth tapes and mica/glass cloth tapes, or othersuitable high temperature insulation materials.

Metal sheath 109 encloses the outside of the bus wire structure andheating element 106. Metal sheath 109 may protect the bus wire structureand heating element 106 from moisture ingress. Metal sheath 109 may becorrugated to allow flexibility. Accordingly, metal sheath 109 mayafford an appropriate amount of mechanical and chemical protection tothe bus wire structure and heating element 106. Materials used for metalsheath 109 may include stainless steel, incoloy alloys, inconel alloys,high-temperature aluminum, and other chemically-resistant steels. Otherembodiments of metal sheath 109 may include a tape that is seam-weldedon one side or both sides, a tape that has been slightly corrugatedbefore welding, a tube, a slightly-flattened tube, a corrugated tube,and a slightly-flattened corrugated tube.

In one example, bus wires 102 are substantially flat. A flat bus wirecreates a structure that is more round than oval (using stranded orround bus wires 102 cause a more oval shape to be formed). The roundshape sometimes allows the structure to be inserted in metal sheath 109easier in the field.

Heating element 106 may include an insulating core and one or moreresistance wires wrapped around the core in a helical manner. Althoughthe following combination of heating element 106 and bus wires 102 aredescribed, it will be understood that other variations may be used. Forexample, heating element 106 may or may not be insulated. Also, buswires 102 may be insulated or not, and may be situated on the inside oroutside of heating element 106. Other combinations may also beappreciated. Further embodiments of heating cable 100 may be disclosedin U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/122,599, entitled “HEATING CABLEWITH A HEATING ELEMENT POSITIONED IN THE MIDDLE OF BUS WIRES” and U.S.patent application Ser. No. 12/122,594, entitled “HEATING CABLE WITHINSULATED HEATING ELEMENT”, both of which are filed concurrently andincorporated by reference in their entirety for all purposes.

FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C depict examples of heating element 106 according tovarious embodiments. FIG. 2A shows an example of heating element 106that includes a resistance wire 202 wrapped around an insulating core204 according to one embodiment. Resistance wires 202 may include ametal wire, such as a fine gauge, high-resistance metallic alloy wire(Nichrome or Kanthol). In one example, 40 American wire gauge (AWG)resistance wire (e.g. Nichrome-60 wire, NiCr60 T-type 675 nickel chromealloy) may be used. Also, different gauge resistance wires may be used(generally from about 10 mils down to 1 mil in diameter).

The insulating core may be a tape, such as a cloth tape made up of aglass material. The tape may be flat and a certain width, length, andheight, such as tapes from ¼ to ½ inch width. The cloth tape is foldedover to form insulating core 204. As will be described in more detailbelow, the tape when folded over is somewhat stiff and exerts an outwardforce because the tape wants to open up again. The tendency to open upmaintains an outward force on resistance wire 202. Because resistancewire 202 is wound around insulating core 204, resistance wire 202 iskept taut and tight and is not able to move around or slip aroundinsulating core 204. Thus, different sections of resistance wire 202 areprevented from touching each other.

The use of glass cloth tape also enables different width heatingelements 106 to be made easily. For example, additional cloth tape maybe wrapped around to form a thicker or thinner insulating core 204. Byproviding a different width insulating core 204, greater lengths ofresistance wire 202 may be used per foot of heating element 106. Forexample, a thicker insulating core 204 allows more resistance wire 202to be wrapped around it per linear foot. This may be important when moreresistance wire is desired per zone. Different combinations of spacingpitch of the wrapping of heating elements give different resistances andpower output of the heating cable depending on applied voltages, as willbe described in more detail below. Accordingly, flexibility is providedusing the cloth tape in addition to providing an outward force totightly wind resistance wires 202 around insulating core 204.

FIG. 2B shows two resistance wires 202-1 and 202-2 that are wrappedaround insulating core 204 in the same direction. Also, a clip 500 isincluded to tie both resistance wires 202 together. This providesredundancy in case a resistance wire is cut. Clip 205 allows current tocontinue to flow from a cut wire at the tying point. FIG. 2C depicts tworesistance wires 202-1 and 202-2 wrapped around insulating core 204 inopposite directions. Other ways of wrapping resistance wires 202 may beappreciated. Wrapping resistance wire 202 in this manner providesredundancy, which allows a resistance wire to be cut or fail, but stillallows a zone to be heated using redundancy. Other methods of providingredundancy using a circuit or wire may be used.

After wrapping resistance wires 202 around insulating core 204, heatingelement 106 then wraps around the bus wire structure as shown in FIG. 1.A heating zone may be a zone in between nodes 110, which are onalternatively opposite bus wires. FIG. 3A depicts an example of heatingelement 106 being wrapped around the bus wire structure according to oneembodiment. The zone may be in between nodes 110-1 and 110-2. Althoughthis zone is shown, it will be understood that multiple zones areincluded on heating cable 100.

Resistance wire 202 may contact bus wire 102 at nodes 110. This providesan electrical connection between resistance wires 202 and bus wires 102.When a voltage is impressed on bus wires 102, resistance wire 202generates heat. For example, current can flow through resistance wires202. In between the zones 302, heat is produced on resistance wires 202.

The zone length of zone heaters using fine gauge resistance wire as aresistance element depends on the overall resistance between nodes 110.This depends on the resistance per unit length of resistance wires 202,its length within zones 302, and the amount of heat desired and voltageapplied to bus wires 102. If a fine gauge resistance wire is about 42AWG (0.0025 inch diameter), the resistance is about 100 ohms/foot oflength, a length of fine gauge wire to produce watts/foot of heater at240 volts AC is necessarily very long (wire length=240*240/10*100=57.6feet of fine gauge wire). Particular embodiments provide this length offine gauge wire into a shorter length of heater. By wrapping resistancewires 202 around insulating core 204 to form heating element 106, andthen wrapping heating element 106 around the bus wire structure, shorterzone lengths are provided. This is because the length of resistance wireneeded in a zone is shortened by wrapping the resistance wire aroundinsulating core 102 and then wrapping heating element 106 around the buswire structure. For example, a zone length may be about 1 or 2 feetusing particular embodiments. By providing shorter zone lengths, if azone is cut, only a small part of the pipe may not be heated. Also, bywrapping heating element 106 helically around the bus wire structure,more resistance wire is used within a zone and may produce more heat.

Accordingly, resistance wire 202 can be wound around the glass clothfabric such that the length of resistance wire 202 is several times thelength of the insulating core. Resistance wire 202 may be wound aroundinsulating core 204 and wound around another insulating core 204 toproduce an even greater length of resistance wire and this process maybe repeated again and again. Resistance wires 202 may be sewn into glasscloth fabric in a zigzag fashion. Also, resistance wires 202 can bewoven into glass cloth fabric and then that glass cloth fabric can becut on a bias to produce angled redundant long resistance wire pathsbetween bus wires.

Particular embodiments also provide redundancy within zones 302 usingheating elements 106, as long as the resistance wires and/or the heatingelements are electrically connected in some way within that zone. Thus,redundancy can be provided using resistance wires 202 and/or heatingelements 106. For example, FIGS. 3B and 3C depict different embodimentsof multiple heating elements 106 wrapped around the bus wire structureaccording to one embodiment. According to embodiments, redundancy isprovided in between zones 302 because if one resistance wire 202 is cuton one heating element 106, the other heating element 106 may still befunctioning. For example, if a resistance wire 202 on heating element106-1 is cut, it will not produce heat in between zone 302. However, ifresistance wire 202 for heating element 106-2 has not been cut, then itstill is electrically connected to nodes 110-1 and 110-2 and conductsheat. Thus, the heating cable still conducts heat in zone 302.

Further, as seen in FIG. 3B, heating element 106-1 and heating element106-2 are overlapped in opposite directions. In FIG. 3C, two heatingelements 106 are wrapped in a co-rotating manner onto insulating core204. Two heating elements 106 may be substantially equally spaced apartalong insulating core 204. In FIG. 3B, when heating elements 106 arewrapped in opposite directions, they touch and make electrical contactat every place that they cross over and touch. This provides additionalredundancy because electrical contact is continued at each overlappingpoint. If a resistance wire 202 is cut at one point, electrical contactat an overlapping point is re-established if the other resistance wire202.

In FIG. 3C, when heating elements 106 are wrapped in the same direction,then they do not overlap to make electrical contact, except at the endsat the node connections. However, clips 500 may also be used to provideredundancy in between nodes. The ties provide electrical contact betweenmultiple resistance wires. The ties may be wires that connect resistancewires 202 together electrically. Also, ties may be other connectors thatare able to make electrical connections. A mechanical fastener may alsobe used that holds resistance wires 202 together and also provideselectrical connection.

FIG. 5A depicts an example of a mechanical fastener that may be used toenhance the connection at node 110 according to one embodiment. Also,clip 500 (or other ties) may be used to connect resistance wires inbetween nodes 110. Clip 500 includes a tab 502 and an aperture 504.Aperture 504 is found in a head area 506. Also, clips may also includestaples, crimps, metal wires, and spring-loaded jaws. Further,spot-welding, soldering or brazing, or other metal-to-metal bonding,such as wrapping wires around the entire bus wire structure, may beused.

If a good electrical connection is not made at nodes 110, thenelectrical contact may be disconnected physically. Also, if a goodconnection is not made, nodes 110 may become higher in contactresistance over time under the high temperature conditions during theuse of the heating cable. High contact resistance at node 110 leads topoor electrical contact and/or voltage drop at that point that coulddestroy the contact and/or resistance wire at node 110 over time.

The many wraps of resistance wires 202 around insulating core 104 inheating element 106 and the long length of bus wires causes resistancewire 202 to contact bus wires 102 in many spots at each node 110. Usingclip 500, the node may be encased and resistance wire 202 is held withfirm physical contact onto bus wire 202.

FIG. 5B shows clip 500 attached to the heating cable according to oneembodiment. As shown, tab 502 covers node 110. Clip 500 is kept in placeby inserting an end of tab 502 through aperture 504 and bending the endof the tab over after pulling the tab tight. By bending the tab over,clip 500 is firmly attached to node 110. Clip 500 exerts force onresistance wires 202 against bus wires 102 to provide good electricaland physical contact. Clip 500 exerts pressure on resistance wires 202because the end of tab 502 is inserted under the head 506 of clip 500and then bent over above head 506. Because of this design, an inwardforce is exerted by the bending over of tab 502 on top of head 506 andthus provides firm pressure against resistance wires 202, which in turnprovides good contact with bus wires 102.

Clip 500 provides many advantages of making electrical and physicalcontact over node 110. A wide area can be covered using clip 500 whereresistance wires 202 touch bus wires 102. Further, the entire area ofnode 110 may be contacted to make contacts with all the resistance wires202 that are contacting bus wire 102 in node 110.

The contact between bus wires 102 and resistance wires 202 should be agood both electrically and physically. The connection should be able towithstand high temperature and remain in good contact upon mechanicalstress and cycling between low and high temperatures. The connectionbetween resistance wires 202 and bus wires 102 can be made in variousways. For example, only physical contact may be provided betweenresistance wires 202 and bus wires 102 by wrapping heating element 106around the bus wire structure. In one example, the folded glass tape mayexert the outward force, which may provide a better electricalconnection between resistance wires 202 and bus wires 102. For example,the outward force may cause resistance wires 202 to physically stayagainst bus wire 102. In the example shown in FIG. 3C, the use of clip500 also connects heating elements 106-1 and 106-2 together by virtue ofcovering resistance wires 202 with a metallic tab. Thus, connectionsbetween resistance wires 202 of both heating elements 106-1 and 106-2are provided. This provides redundancy in that if one resistance wire202 is broken for heating element 106-1, with clip 500, the electricalconnection may be continued as heating element 106-1 and 106-2 areconnected together at a node 110. Thus, at most a zone may be lost dueto a damaged heating element 106.

Accordingly, particular embodiments provide good mechanical andelectrical contact between heating element 106 and bus wires 102 atnodes 110. This contact is maintained for design lifetime of the heatingcable under mechanical and temperature extremes during the use of theheating cable.

FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 4C depict examples of equivalent electrical circuitsaccording to particular embodiments. The electric circuits are formed byheating element 106. A circuit provides redundancy if a break 404 occursin resistance wire 202. For example, if a single resistance wire 202 iswrapped around insulating core 204, and if a break occurs in aresistance wire, then the zone will be broken if a circuit does notprovide a different path.

As shown in FIG. 4A, if a break occurs on resistance wire 202, then aredundant path may not be provided. This prevents a continuous circuitto be formed during the break. However, in FIGS. 4B and 4C, redundancyis provided. For example, if a break 406-1 also occurs on resistancewire 202-2, another path may be provided to connect resistance wires 202together. In this case, resistance wires 202-1 and 202-2 are connectedtogether with ties. At the tie points, an electrical connection betweenresistance wires 202-1 and 202-2 is formed and current can flow throughboth wires 202.

In FIG. 4C, resistance wires 202-1 and 202-2 crisscross as described inFIG. 2C. At each point, an electrical connection is formed. When a breakoccurs, a path still exists on the other side of the circuit 402-3 andcurrent can flow through both resistance wires 202 at the next overlappoint.

FIG. 6 depicts a simplified flowchart 600 of a method for manufacturinga heating cable according to one embodiment. Step 602 provides aplurality of bus wires including an insulation layer for the pluralityof bus wires.

Step 604 forms a plurality of node areas in the insulation layer. Thenode areas expose portions of one or the other of the bus wires from theinsulation.

Step 606 wraps a heating element around the bus wires in a helicalmanner. The heating element includes an insulating core and one or moreresistance wires wrapped around the core in a helical manner.

Step 608 places the heating element on the bus wire structure such thatthe one or more resistance wires are electrically coupled to the buswires to one or the other bus wires at the plurality of node areas tocreate a plurality of resistance zones. A plurality of redundant pathsin between two nodes are provided to allow for current to flow in a zoneif one of the redundant paths are broken.

Step 610 places a tie around the heating cable at a node to secure anelectrical connection between a bus wire and the one or more resistancewires at the node. The tie includes a tab and an aperture. The tab isinserted through the aperture to exert an inward pressure against theone or more resistance wires to secure the electrical connection to oneof the bus wires at the node area. and Step 612 places a secondinsulating layer over the plurality of bus wires and the heating element

Step 614 places a metal sheath enclosing the second insulating layer.

Particular embodiments provide redundancy and reliability. For example,redundancy is provided in which resistance wires may be broken butalternate paths are provided such that the connection is not lostbetween zones. Also, good contact is provided at nodes due to a clipthat holds resistance wires firm to bus wires 102 at nodes 110. Also,shorter zone lengths are provided because resistance wires 202 arewrapped around insulating core 204, which then is wrapped around a buswire structure. Thus, longer lengths of resistance wire may be wrappedaround in a zone thus resulting in shorter zone lengths.

Accordingly, particularly embodiments reduce the danger of non-heatedlengths of zones for a particular element that is being heated, such asa pipe. Redundancy, reliability, and shorter zone length provide abetter heating cable.

In one embodiment, metal sheath 109 may be removed. A tape, such asglass fiber-mica tape, may be wrapped around heating element 106 and thebus wire structure. A metal braid layer then encloses the glass clothinsulation and then a high temperature resistant polymeric jacketencloses the outer braid layer. The braid layer provides electricalprotection and can be grounded and provides mechanical protection forthe heating cable. The polymeric jacket material can withstand along-term high temperature environment.

An example will now be discussed but it will be understood that otherexamples will be appreciated. Two heating elements 106 of medium lengthare wrapped in a co-rotated manner between a node 110-1 on one bus wire102-1 to a node 110-2 on another bus wire 102-2. There may be twoelectrical circuits 402, made by inserting ties between the heatingelements, connecting heating elements 106 at one-third points betweennodes 110. The heater produces 20 watts/unit length at 120 volts AC. ByOhm's Law, the total resistance between nodes is 720 ohms, each of thethree sections having resistance of 240 ohms and producing 6.67 watts.The current flow through the heater is 0.278 amps.

If resistance wire 202 on each heating element 106 is made of 38 AWGresistance wire with a resistance of 48 ohms/feet of wire length, then16 feet of resistance wire is needed between nodes 110. If thisresistance wire is wrapped around bus wires in a conventional zoneheater configuration, then the zone length of the heater would be about4 feet. However, particular embodiments may achieve a zone length of1.33 feet by wrapping resistance wire 202 around insulating core 106. Iftwo parallel resistance wires 202 are used, then the zone length may bedoubled.

If one resistance wire 202 in one section of a heating element 106 isbroken, then that section has resistance of 480 ohms and the other twosections still have resistance of 240 ohms each, and the sections are inseries. Since total resistance is now 160 ohms, the current flow is 1.56amps. The overall power output of the heater is now 15 watts,distributed as 7.5 watts in a section where the wire is broken and 3.75watts in each of the other two sections. Though one resistance wire 202has been broken, heat is still produced in all sections of a zone.

The above example is only an example and can be extended to additionalredundant resistance wires 202 or heating elements 106 in parallel, aswell as more electrical circuit ties between resistance wires 202. Withincreased parallel resistance wires 202, the distance between nodes 110increases, however the inclusion of an increased number of electricalcircuit ties 402 between resistance wires 202 decreases the effectivezone length of the heating cable. This can also apply to thecounter-rotated wrapped resistance wires 202 which also containredundancy and for which power output reduction on a break in the wireis minimal.

Although the description has been described with respect to particularembodiments thereof, these particular embodiments are merelyillustrative, and not restrictive. For example, heating cable may beused to provide heat to a number of different structures and is notlimited to pipes.

It will also be appreciated that one or more of the elements depicted inthe drawings/figures can also be implemented in a more separated orintegrated manner, or even removed or rendered as inoperable in certaincases, as is useful in accordance with a particular application. As usedin the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, “a”,“an”, and “the” includes plural references unless the context clearlydictates otherwise. Also, as used in the description herein andthroughout the claims that follow, the meaning of “in” includes “in” and“on” unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

Thus, while particular embodiments have been described herein, alatitude of modification, various changes and substitutions are intendedin the foregoing disclosures, and it will be appreciated that in someinstances some features of particular embodiments will be employedwithout a corresponding use of other features without departing from thescope and spirit as set forth. Therefore, many modifications may be madeto adapt a particular situation or material to the essential scope andspirit.

1. A heating cable comprising: a bus wire structure comprising: aplurality of bus wires; and an insulation layer for the plurality of buswires, the insulation layer including a plurality of node areas, thenode areas exposing portions of the bus wires from the insulation; aheating element wrapped around the bus wire structure in a helicalmanner, the heating element comprising: an insulating core; and one ormore resistance wires wrapped around the core in a helical manner,wherein the heating element is electrically coupled to the nodes of thebus wire structure by coupling the one or more resistance wires to thebus wires at the plurality of node areas to create a plurality ofresistance zones, wherein a plurality of redundant paths in between twonodes are provided to allow for current to flow in a zone if one of theredundant paths are broken.
 2. The heating cable of claim 1, furthercomprising an insulating layer and a metal sheath enclosing the bus wirestructure and the heating element.
 3. The heating cable of claim 2,wherein the metal sheath is corrugated to provide flexibility to theheating cable.
 4. The heating cable of claim 1, further comprising a tieconfigured to wrap around the heating cable at a node to secure anelectrical connection between a bus wire and the one or more resistancewires at the node.
 5. The heating cable of claim 4, wherein the tieincludes a tab and an aperture, the tab being inserted through theaperture to exert an inward pressure against the one or more resistancewires to secure the electrical connection to one of the bus wires at thenode area.
 6. The heating cable of claim 1, wherein the one or moreresistance wires comprise a plurality of resistance wires wrapped aroundthe insulating core in opposite directions to overlap multiple times toform the plurality of redundant paths.
 7. The heating cable of claim 1,wherein the one or more resistance wires comprise a plurality ofresistance wires wrapped around the insulating core in a same direction,wherein the plurality of resistance wires are tied at a plurality ofpoints to form the plurality of redundant paths.
 8. The heating cable ofclaim 1, wherein the one or more resistance wires comprise a singleresistance wire wrapped around the insulating core, the heating cablecomprising a circuit configured to connect a first portion of the singleresistance wire to a second portion of the resistance wire to form theplurality of redundant paths.
 9. The heating cable of claim 1, wherein aplurality of heating elements are provided to form the plurality ofredundant paths.
 10. The heating cable of claim 9, wherein the pluralityof heating elements are wrapped around the bus wire structure inopposite directions to overlap multiple times to form the plurality ofredundant paths.
 11. The heating cable of claim 9, wherein the pluralityof heating elements are wrapped around the bus wire structure in a samedirection, wherein the plurality of heating elements are tied at aplurality of points to form the plurality of redundant paths.
 12. Theheating cable of claim 1, wherein the insulating core comprises a foldedover cloth tape that when folded, exerts an outward pressure on theresistance wires wrapped around it.
 13. A method for manufacturing aheating cable, the method comprising: providing a plurality of bus wiresincluding an insulation layer for the plurality of bus wires; forming aplurality of node areas in the insulation layer, the node areas exposingportions of the bus wires from the insulation; wrapping a heatingelement around the bus wires in a helical manner, wherein the heatingelement comprises an insulating core and one or more resistance wireswrapped around the core in a helical manner; and placing the heatingelement on the bus wire structure such that the one or more resistancewires are electrically coupled to the bus wires to one or the other buswires at the plurality of node areas to create a plurality of resistancezones, wherein a plurality of redundant paths in between two nodes areprovided to allow for current to flow in a zone if one of the redundantpaths are broken.
 14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:placing a second insulating layer over the plurality of bus wires andthe heating element; and placing a metal sheath enclosing the secondinsulating layer.
 15. The method of claim 13, further comprising placinga tie around the heating cable at a node to secure an electricalconnection between a bus wire and the one or more resistance wires atthe node, wherein the tie includes a tab and an aperture, the methodfurther comprising inserting the tab through the aperture to exert aninward pressure against the one or more resistance wires to secure theelectrical connection to one of the bus wires at the node area.
 16. Themethod of claim 13, wherein wrapping the one or more resistance wirescomprises wrapping a plurality of resistance wires around the insulatingcore in opposite directions to overlap multiple times to form theplurality of redundant paths.
 17. The method of claim 13, whereinwrapping the one or more resistance wires comprises wrapping a pluralityof resistance wires around the insulating core in a same direction,wherein the plurality of resistance wires are tied at a plurality ofpoints to form the plurality of redundant paths.
 18. The method of claim13, further comprising providing a plurality of heating elements to formthe plurality of redundant paths.
 19. The method claim 18, furthercomprising wrapping the plurality of heating elements around the buswire structure in opposite directions to overlap multiple times to formthe plurality of redundant paths.
 20. The method of claim 18, furthercomprising wrapping the plurality of heating elements around the buswire structure in a same direction, wherein the plurality of heatingelements are tied at a plurality of points to form the plurality ofredundant paths.
 21. The method of claim 13, wherein the insulating corecomprises a folded over cloth tape that when folded, exerts an outwardpressure on the resistance wires wrapped around it.